Wireless communication devices and methods of forming and operating the same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to wireless communication devices and methods of forming and operating the same. The present invention provides a wireless communication device including a substrate having a support surface, wireless communication circuitry upon the support surface of the substrate, at least one antenna electrically coupled with the wireless communication circuitry, a conductive layer configured to interact with the antenna, and an insulative layer intermediate the conductive layer and the antenna. A method of forming a wireless communication device includes providing a substrate having a support surface, forming an antenna upon the support surface, conductively coupling wireless communication circuitry with the antenna, forming an insulative layer over at least a portion of the antenna, and providing a conductive layer over at least a portion of the insulative layer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to wireless communication devices andmethods of forming and operating the same.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Electronic identification systems typically comprise two devices whichare configured to communicate with one another. Preferred configurationsof the electronic identification systems are operable to provide suchcommunications via a wireless medium.

One such configuration is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.08/705,043, filed Aug. 29, 1996, assigned to the assignee of the presentapplication and incorporated herein by reference. This applicationdiscloses the use of a radio frequency (RF) communication systemincluding communication devices. The communication devices includeinterrogator and a transponder such as a tag or card.

The communication system can be used in various identification and otherapplications. The interrogator is configured to output a polling signalwhich may comprise a radio frequency signal including a predefined code.The transponders of such a communication system are operable to transmitan identification signal responsive to receiving an appropriate commandor polling signal. More specifically, the appropriate transponders areconfigured to recognize the predefined code. The transponders receivingthe code subsequently output a particular identification signal which isassociated with the transmitting transponder. Following transmission ofthe polling signal, the interrogator is configured to receive theidentification signals enabling detection of the presence ofcorresponding transponders.

Such communication systems are useable in identification applicationssuch as inventory or other object monitoring. For example, a remoteidentification device is attached to an object of interest. Responsiveto receiving the appropriate polling signal, the identification deviceis equipped to output an identification signal. Generating theidentification signal identifies the presence or location of theidentification device and article or object attached thereto.

Such identification systems configured to communicate via radiofrequency signals are susceptible to incident RF radiation. Such RFradiation can degrade the performance of the identification system. Forexample, application of transponders to objects comprising metal mayresult in decreased or no performance depending on the spacing of thetransponder antenna to the nearest metal on the object.

Therefore, there exists a need to reduce the effects of incident RFradiation upon the operation of communication devices of an electronicidentification system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one embodiment of the invention, a wireless communicationdevice is provided which includes a substrate, communication circuitry,antenna and a conductive layer configured to interact with the antenna.Some embodiments of the wireless communication devices include remoteintelligent communication devices and radio frequency identificationdevices.

According to additional aspects of the present invention, methods offorming a wireless communication device and a radio frequencyidentification device are provided. The present invention also providesmethods of operating a wireless communication device and a radiofrequency identification device.

The conductive layer is configured to act as a ground plane in oneembodiment of the invention. The ground plane shields some signals fromthe antenna while reflecting other signals toward the antenna. Theground plane also operates to reflect some of the signals transmitted bythe device. The conductive layer is preferably coupled with a terminalof a power source within the communication device. Such couplingprovides the conductive layer at a reference voltage potential.

The communication circuitry comprises transponder circuitry inaccordance with other aspects of the present invention. The transpondercircuitry is configured to output an identification signal responsive toreceiving a polling signal from an interrogator. Certain disclosedembodiments provide a processor within the communication devicesconfigured to process the received polling signal. The processor andcommunication circuitry may be implemented in an integrated circuit.

The wireless communication device is provided within a substantiallysolid, void-free housing in accordance with one aspect of the presentinvention. Such a housing comprises plural encapsulant layers and asubstrate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless communication system includingan interrogator and a wireless communication device embodying theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the wireless communication device.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the wireless communication deviceat an intermediate processing step.

FIG. 4 is cross-sectional view, taken along line 4-4, of the wirelesscommunication device shown in FIG. 3 at an intermediate processing step.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the wireless communication device ata processing step subsequent to FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the wireless communication device ata processing step subsequent to FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 4, of an alternativeintermediate processing step.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the wirelesscommunication device.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the wirelesscommunication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of theconstitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progressof science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

This description of the present invention discloses embodiments ofvarious wireless communication devices. The wireless communicationdevices are fabricated in card configurations (which include tags orstamps) according to first and second aspects of the present invention.The embodiments are illustrative and other configurations of a wirelesscommunication device according to the present invention are possible.Certain embodiments of the wireless communication device according tothe invention comprise radio frequency identification devices (RFID) andremote intelligent communication devices (RIC).

Referring to FIG. 1, a remote intelligent communication device orwireless communication device 10 comprises part of a communicationsystem 12. The remote intelligent communication device is capable offunctions other than the identifying function of a radio frequencyidentification device. A preferred embodiment of the remote intelligentcommunication device includes a processor.

The communication system 12 shown in FIG. 1 further includes aninterrogator unit 14. An exemplary interrogator 14 is described indetail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/806,158, filed Feb. 25,1997, assigned to the assignee of the present application andincorporated herein by reference. The wireless communication device 10communicates via wireless electronic signals, such as radio frequency(RF) signals, with the interrogator unit 14. Radio frequency signalsincluding microwave signals are utilized for communications in apreferred embodiment of communication system 12. The communicationsystem 12 includes an antenna 16 coupled to the interrogator unit 14.

Referring to FIG. 2, the wireless communication device 10 includes aninsulative substrate or layer of supportive material 18. The term“substrate” as used herein refers to any supporting or supportivestructure, including but not limited to, a supportive single layer ofmaterial or multiple layer constructions. Example materials for thesubstrate 18 comprise polyester, polyethylene or polyimide film having athickness of 4-6 mils (thousandths of an inch).

Substrate 18 provides a first or lower portion of a housing for thewireless communication device 10 and defines an outer periphery 21 ofthe device 10. Substrate 18 includes a plurality of peripheral edges 17.

Referring to FIG. 3, at least one ink layer 19 is applied to substrate18 in preferred embodiments of the invention. Ink layer 19 enhances theappearance of the device 10 and conceals internal components andcircuitry provided therein. A portion of ink layer 19 has been peeledaway in FIG. 3 to reveal a portion of an upper surface 25 of substrate18. In other embodiments, plural ink layers are provided upon uppersurface 25.

A support surface 20 is provided to support components and circuitryformed in later processing steps upon substrate 18. In embodimentswherein at least one ink layer 19 is provided, support surface 20comprises an upper surface thereof as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively,upper surface 25 of substrate 18 operates as the support surface if inkis not applied to substrate 18.

A patterned conductive trace 30 is formed or applied over the substrate18 and atop the support surface 20. Conductive trace 30 is formed uponink layer 19, if present, or upon substrate 18 if no ink layer isprovided. A preferred conductive trace 30 comprises printed thick film(PTF). The printed thick film comprises silver and polyester dissolvedinto a solvent. One manner of forming or applying the conductive trace30 is to screen or stencil print the ink on the support surface 20through conventional screen printing techniques. The printed thick filmis preferably heat cured to flash off the solvent and UV cured to reactUV materials present in the printed thick film.

The conductive trace 30 forms desired electrical connections with andbetween electronic components which will be described below. In oneembodiment, substrate 18 forms a portion of a larger roll of polyesterfilm material used to manufacture multiple devices 10. In such anembodiment, the printing of conductive trace 30 can take placesimultaneously for a number of the to-be-formed wireless communicationdevices.

The illustrated conductive trace 30 includes an electrical connection28, a first connection terminal 53 (shown in phantom in FIG. 3) and asecond connection terminal 58. Conductive trace 30 additionally definestransmit and receive antennas 32, 34 in one embodiment of the invention.Antennas 32, 34 are suitable for respectively transmitting and receivingwireless signals or RF energy. Transmit antenna 32 constitutes a loopantenna having outer peripheral edges 37. Receive antenna 34 constitutestwo elongated portions individually having horizontal peripheral edges38 a, which extend in opposing directions, and substantially parallelvertical peripheral edges 38 b.

Other antenna constructions are possible. In particular, both transmitand receive operations are implemented with a single antenna inalternative embodiments of the present invention. Both antennas 32, 34preferably extend or lie within the confines of peripheral edges 17 andouter periphery 21 and define a plane (shown in FIG. 4).

One embodiment of a wireless communication device 10 includes a powersource 52, integrated circuit 54, and capacitor 55. Power source 52,capacitor 55, and integrated circuit 54 are provided and mounted onsupport surface 20 and supported by substrate 18. The depicted powersource 52 is disposed within transmit antenna 32 of wirelesscommunication device 10. Capacitor 55 is electrically coupled with loopantenna 32 and integrated circuit 54 in the illustrated embodiment.

Power source 52 provides operational power to the wireless communicationdevice 10 and selected components therein, including integrated circuit54. In the illustrated embodiment, power source 52 comprises a battery.In particular, power source 52 is preferably a thin profile batterywhich includes first and second terminals of opposite polarity. Moreparticularly, the battery has a lid or negative (i.e., ground) terminalor electrode, and a can or positive (i.e., power) terminal or electrode.

Conductive epoxy is applied over desired areas of support surface 20using conventional printing techniques, such as stencil or screenprinting, to assist in component attachment described just below.Alternately, solder or another conductive material is employed insteadof conductive epoxy. The power source 52 is provided and mounted onsupport surface 20 using the conductive epoxy. Integrated circuit 54 andcapacitor 55 are also provided and mounted or conductively bonded on thesupport surface 20 using the conductive epoxy. Integrated circuit 54 canbe mounted either before or after the power source 52 is mounted on thesupport surface 20.

Integrated circuit 54 includes suitable circuitry for providing wirelesscommunications. For example, in one embodiment, integrated circuit 54includes a processor 62, memory 63, and wireless communication circuitryor transponder circuitry 64 (components 62, 63, 64 are shown in phantomin FIG. 3) for providing wireless communications with interrogator unit14. An exemplary and preferred integrated circuit 54 is described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/705,043, incorporated by referenceabove.

One embodiment of transponder circuitry 64 includes a transmitter and areceiver respectively operable to transmit and receive wirelesselectronic signals. In particular, transponder circuitry 64 is operableto transmit an identification signal responsive to receiving a pollingsignal from interrogator 14. In the described embodiment, processor 62is configured to process the received polling signal to detect apredefined code within the polling signal. Responsive to the detectionof an appropriate polling signal, processor 62 instructs transpondercircuitry 64 to output an identification signal. The identificationsignal contains an appropriate code to identify the particular device 10transmitting the identification signal in certain embodiments. Theidentification and polling signals are respectively transmitted andreceived via antennas 32, 34 of the device 10.

First and second connection terminals 53, 58 are coupled to theintegrated circuit 54 by conductive epoxy in accordance with a preferredembodiment of the invention. The conductive epoxy also electricallyconnects the first terminal of the power source 52 to the firstconnection terminal 53. In the illustrated embodiment, power source 52is placed lid down such that the conductive epoxy makes electricalcontact between the negative terminal of the power source 52 and thefirst connection terminal 53.

Power source 52 has a perimetral edge 56, defining the second powersource terminal, which is provided adjacent second connection terminal58. In the illustrated embodiment, perimetral edge 56 of the powersource 52 is cylindrical, and the connection terminal 58 is arcuate andhas a radius slightly greater than the radius of the power source 52, sothat connection terminal 58 is closely spaced apart from the edge 56 ofpower source 52.

Subsequently, conductive epoxy is dispensed relative to perimetral edge56 and electrically connects perimetral edge 56 with connection terminal58. In the illustrated embodiment, perimetral edge 56 defines the can ofthe power source 52. The conductive epoxy connects the positive terminalof the power source 52 to connection terminal 58. The conductive epoxyis then cured.

Referring to FIG. 4-FIG. 6, a method of forming an embodiment ofwireless communication device 10 is shown. In the illustrated method, anelectrical connection, such as a conductive post or pin 26, isconductively bonded to electrical connection 28 using a pick and placesurface mount machine 70 (shown in FIG. 4). Preferably, the integratedcircuit 54 and the capacitor 55 are also placed using the surface mountmachine 70. Conductive pin 26 is utilized to provide electricalconductivity between electrical connection 28, conductive trace 30, andother conductive layers (e.g., a ground plane layer described below) ofthe wireless communication device 10. Other methods of formingconnection 26 may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 5, an encapsulant, such as encapsulating epoxymaterial, is subsequently formed following component attachment toprovide a first encapsulant layer or insulative layer 60. In oneembodiment, insulative layer 60 is provided over the entire supportsurface 20. Insulative layer 60 encapsulates or envelopes the antennas32, 34, integrated circuit 54, power source 52, conductive circuitry 30,capacitor 55, and at least a portion of the support surface 20 ofsubstrate 18. Insulative layer 60 defines an intermediate portion of ahousing for the wireless communication device 10. Insulative layer 60operates to insulate the components (i.e., antennas 32, 34, integratedcircuit 54, power source 52, conductive circuitry 30 and capacitor 55)from other conductive portions of the wireless communication device 10formed in subsequent processing steps described below.

An exemplary encapsulant is a flowable encapsulant. The flowableencapsulant is applied over substrate 18 and subsequently curedfollowing the appropriate covering of the desired components. In theillustrated embodiment, such encapsulant constitutes a two-part epoxyincluding fillers, such as silicon and calcium carbonate. The preferredtwo-part epoxy is sufficient to provide a desired degree of flexiblerigidity. Such encapsulation of wireless communication device 10 isdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/800,037, filed Feb. 13,1997, assigned to the assignee of the present application, andincorporated herein by reference.

Other encapsulant materials of insulative layer 60 can be used inaccordance with the present invention. In addition, the thickness ofinsulative layer 60 can be varied. Using alternative encapsulantmaterials and the adjusting of the dimensions of insulative layer 60alter the dielectric characteristics (i.e., dielectric constant) oflayer 60.

Referring to FIG. 6, wireless communication device 10 is illustrated atan intermediate processing step. A portion of insulative layer 60 ispreferably removed. The removed portion is represented by the dimension“h” in FIG. 5. Such removal provides a substantially planar dielectricsurface 65 of insulative layer 60. Dielectric surface 65 issubstantially parallel to the plane 33 defined by antennas 32, 34. Theportion is removed by sanding insulative layer 60 to provide planarsurface 65 according to one processing method of the present invention.Insulative layer 60 is preferably sanded to a predetermined thickness,such as 90 mils. In other embodiments, the entire insulative layer 60 isutilized and removal of the upper portion of layer 60 is notimplemented.

In embodiments where one of connections 26, 26 a is provided (alternateconnection 26 a is shown in FIGS. 7 and 9), sanding or partiallyremoving insulative layer 60 exposes a top portion of the connection 26,26 a permitting electrical coupling therewith adjacent dielectricsurface 65.

The thickness of insulative layer 60 defines the distance between aconductive layer 22 (described below) and antennas 32, 34, providedadjacent opposing sides of layer 60. The thickness of insulative layer60 is chosen as a function of the dielectric constant of the encapsulantand the desired frequency for communication.

After provision of insulative layer 60, a conductive layer 22 is formedor applied over the dielectric surface 65 thereof. Conductive layer 22includes peripheral edges 61. Preferably, conductive layer 22 covers oris provided over the entire insulative dielectric surface 65.Alternatively, conductive layer 22 is patterned to cover predefinedportions of dielectric surface 65. In embodiments wherein conductivelayer 22 is patterned, the layer 22 is preferably formed at least overantennas 32, 34. More specifically, the respective peripheral edges 37,38 of antennas 32, 34 are provided within the confines of the peripheraledges 61 of conductive layer 22.

Conductive layer 22 formed upon dielectric surface 65 is preferablysubstantially planar. In addition, conductive layer 22 is substantiallyparallel to the plane 33 defined by antennas 32, 34, as well asdielectric surface 65.

In one embodiment, conductive layer 22 comprises a stencil printedpolymer thick film (PTF). The polymer thick film is typically 70-73%overfilled. In an alternative embodiment, conductive layer 22 is aconductive epoxy comprising approximately 70% metal. Furtheralternatively, conductive layer 22 comprises copper or gold foillaminated upon the dielectric surface 65 of insulative layer 60. Instill another embodiment of the present invention, metal such as gold issputtered upon dielectric surface 65 of insulative layer 60 to formconductive layer 22.

Conductive layer 22 can be configured to operate as a ground plane andinteract with antennas 32, 34. In particular, conductive layer 22 can beused to form a radio frequency (RF) shield. Inasmuch as the preferredembodiment of communication device 10 communicates via wireless signals,it is desired to reduce or minimize interference, such as incident RFradiation. Conductive layer 22 interacts with antennas 32, 34 to improvethe RF operation of wireless communication device 10.

In one embodiment, conductive layer 22 operates to shield some wirelesselectronic signals from the receive antenna 34 and reflect otherwireless electronic signals toward the antenna 34. Conductive layer 22includes a first side, which faces away from antennas 32, 34 (oppositesurface 65) and a second side, which faces antennas 32, 34 (adjacentsurface 65). Electronic signals received on the first side of theconductive layer 22 are shielded or blocked by layer 22 from reachingthe antennas 32, 34. Electronic signals received on the second side ofthe conductive layer 22, which pass by or around antennas 32, 34, arereflected by layer 22.

Some of the wireless communication signals transmitted by communicationsdevice 10 via antenna 32 are reflected by conductive 8 layer 22. Inparticular, wireless signals transmitted from antenna 32 which strikethe second side of conductive layer 22 are reflected thereby.

Such shielding and reflecting by conductive layer 22 provides a highlydirectional wireless communication device 10. The provision ofconductive layer 22 within wireless communication device 10 results inrobust wireless communications with interrogator 14 and providesincreased reliability.

The conductive layer 22 is electrically connected with power source 52in the illustrated embodiments of the present invention. Conductivelayer 22 can be electrically coupled with either the positive ornegative terminal of power source 52. Coupling of conductive layer 22with one of the terminals of power source 52 provides layer 22 at thevoltage potential of the respective terminal.

In one embodiment, conductive layer 22 is electrically coupled with theground (i.e., negative) terminal of power source 52 through theintegrated circuit 54. Referring specifically to FIG. 6, integratedcircuit 54 includes a first pin 35 internally connected with the groundterminal of power source 52 (not shown). First pin 35 is additionallyconductively bonded with electrical connection 28 of conductive trace30. Electrical connection 28 is conductively coupled with connection pin26. Pin 26 is connected with conductive layer 22 and provides electricalcoupling of conductive layer 22 and power source 52 through insulativelayer 60.

Coupling of one of the power terminals of power source 52 and groundplane/conductive layer 22 provides layer 22 at a common referencevoltage. In particular, electrically connecting ground plane/conductivelayer 22 and the ground terminal of power source 52 via electricalconnections 26, 28 electrically grounds layer 22. Alternatively, groundplane/conductive layer 22 is coupled with the power electrode of powersource 52 via electrical connections 26, 28 in other embodiments of theinvention. Coupling ground plane/conductive layer 22 with the powerelectrode of power source 52 provides layer 22 at the positive potentialof power source 52.

Pin 26 is coupled directly with one of the terminals of power source 52in other embodiments of the invention (not shown), thereby bypassingintegrated circuit 54. Alternatively, no electrical connection is madeto ground plane/conductive layer 22. In such an embodiment, groundplane/conductive layer 22 is insulated and the voltage of layer 22 ispermitted to float.

Referring to FIG. 7, an alternative electrical connection 26 a is shown.Electrical connection 26 a also provides conductivity through insulativelayer 60. Connection 26 a electrically couples conductive layer 22 andelectrical connection 28. In this embodiment, electrical connection 26 acomprises conductive epoxy. A dispenser 72 is utilized to dispense theconductive epoxy onto connection 28 of conductive trace 30 in thedepicted embodiment.

Connections 26, 26 a may be formed at positions other than thoseillustrated in the depicted embodiments of device 10. In particular,connections 26, 26 a may be provided at any appropriate location toprovide electrical coupling of a terminal of power source 52 andconductive layer 22.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, completed wireless communication devices10 are shown. Following the provision of conductive layer 22 and one, ifany, of electrical connections 26, 26 a, an upper housing portion 66 ispreferably formed over the conductive layer 22 of the respectiveillustrated devices 10. In one embodiment, upper housing portion 66comprises a second encapsulant layer which covers and/or encapsulatesthe conductive layer 22 of the respective devices 10. In the depictedembodiment, first and second encapsulant layers 60, 66 envelope theentire conductive layer 22. Such is desired to insulate the conductivelayer 22.

Second encapsulant layer 66 may comprise the two-part encapsulantutilized to form insulative first encapsulant layer 60. Following theprovision of second encapsulant layer 66 upon conductive layer 22, theencapsulant is subsequently cured forming a substantially void-freehousing 27 or solid mass with substrate 18 and first encapsulant layer60. In one embodiment, housing 27 of wireless communication device 10has a width of about 3.375 inches, a height of about 2.125 inches, and athickness less than or equal to about 0.0625 inches.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A wireless communication device comprising: a substrate having asupport surface; wireless communication circuitry upon the supportsurface of the substrate; at least one antenna electrically coupled withthe wireless communication circuitry; a conductive layer configured tointeract with the at least one antenna; and an insulative layerintermediate the conductive layer and the at least one antenna.
 2. Thewireless communication device according to claim 1 wherein the wirelesscommunication device comprises a remote intelligent communicationdevice.
 3. The wireless communication device according to claim 1wherein the wireless communication device comprises a radio frequencyidentification device.
 4. The wireless communication device according toclaim 1 wherein the insulative layer is over substantially the entiresupport surface and the conductive layer is over substantially theentire insulative layer.
 5. The wireless communication device accordingto claim 1 further comprising a power source having plural terminalscoupled with the wireless communication circuitry.
 6. The wirelesscommunication device according to claim 5 further comprising anelectrical connection provided through the insulative layer and operableto conductively couple the conductive layer and one of the terminals ofthe power source.
 7. The wireless communication device according toclaim 1 wherein the insulative layer forms a first encapsulant layeroperable to envelope the wireless communication circuitry, the at leastone antenna and the support surface.
 8. The wireless communicationdevice according to claim 7 further comprising a second encapsulantlayer over the conductive layer.
 9. The wireless communication deviceaccording to claim 8 wherein the first and second encapsulant layers andthe substrate form a substantially solid housing.
 10. The wirelesscommunication device according to claim 1 wherein the wirelesscommunication circuitry comprises transponder circuitry configured totransmit an identification signal responsive to receiving a pollingsignal.
 11. The wireless communication device according to claim 1further comprising a processor operable to process signals received viathe at least one antenna.
 12. The wireless communication deviceaccording to claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna and conductivelayer include respective peripheral edges and the peripheral edges ofthe at least one antenna are provided within the confines of theperipheral edges of the conductive layer.
 13. The wireless communicationdevice according to claim 1 wherein the at least one antenna defines aplane, the conductive layer is substantially planar, and the conductivelayer is substantially parallel to the plane defined by the at least oneantenna.
 14. The wireless communication device according to claim 1wherein the at least one antenna is operable to receive wirelesscommunication signals and the conductive layer is configured to shieldsome of the wireless communication signals from the at least one antennaand reflect others of the wireless communication signals toward the atleast one antenna.
 15. A remote intelligent communication devicecomprising: a substrate having a support surface; a conductive traceformed upon the support surface and including at least one antennaconfigured to at least one of transmit and receive wirelesscommunication signals; transponder circuitry bonded to the supportsurface and electrically coupled with the conductive trace; a firstencapsulant layer enveloping the transponder circuitry, the at least oneantenna, and at least a portion of the substrate; a conductive layerpositioned upon the first encapsulant layer to interact with the atleast one antenna; and a second encapsulant layer over the conductivelayer and forming a substantially solid housing with the substrate andthe first encapsulant layer.
 16. The remote intelligent communicationdevice according to claim 15 further comprising a power source coupledwith the transponder circuitry.
 17. The remote intelligent communicationdevice according to claim 15 further comprising an electrical connectionthrough the first encapsulant layer coupling the conductive layer andthe conductive trace.
 18. The remote intelligent communication deviceaccording to claim 15 further comprising a processor operable to processat least some of the wireless communication signals.
 19. The remoteintelligent communication device according to claim 15 wherein thetransponder circuitry is configured to transmit an identification signalresponsive to receiving a polling signal.
 20. The remote intelligentcommunication device according to claim 15 wherein the conductive layeris configured to shield some of the wireless communication signals fromthe at least one antenna and reflect others of the wirelesscommunication signals toward the at least one antenna.